Combined street sweeper and cleaner.



V PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908. H. A. HUBER. COMBINED STREET SWEEPER AND CLEANER.

m d 1%- r s n a v z 0 m n d t u. H 4 s .v V N K T I v wk 3 ll N v I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1906'.

Witnesses.

,BMAL .Q N%. W M W PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908. H. A. HUBER. COMBINED STREET SWEEPER AND CLEANER. APPLICATION TILED NOV 1, 1906 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor. WWW

PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908. H. A. HUBER. COMBINED STREET SWEEPER AND CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Inventor W @MwZ Illa/H1,

HENRY ALBERT HUBER, OF WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

comma-n sTnnET swnnrnn AND CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application filed November 1, 1906. Serial No. 3&1,591.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ALBERT HU- BER, of the city of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, photogra her, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Street Sweepers and Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to street sweepers and cleaners, more especially those adapted to be used on pavements and such like, and the objects of the invention are, firstly, to provide a machine which, to a large degree, will do away with street sprinklers, and hand sweepers, secondl to provide a serviceable, efficient, and se f ropelling machine, of moderate cost, and t 'rdly, to provide a machine of great working capacity, under the control of a single operator.

It consists essentially of a set of carriage and traction wheels, a box or inclosed body portion, a frame work or stand forward of the box and above the carriage wheels, an adjustable nose extending forwardly and downwardly from the stand, an endless carrier passing over the nose and the stand, and backwardly into the box, brooms ivotally supported forward of the nose, a the brooms, a casing inclosing the ascending side of the conveyor, exhaust fans, exhausting from the hood to the inside of the casing above the carrier, adjustments. to the brooms, adjustments to the nose, means for raising the nose, and a motive power, .all arranged and constructed as hereinafter more especially described.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of in complete invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional e evation of the machine,.the section being taken through the center. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a detailed, vertical, sectional view, through the center of the brush axles. Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detailed, perspective view, of a portion of the front of the noseshowing the end adjustment of the brushes. Fig. 6 is an enlarged, detailed, perspective view of the central adjustment for the brushes. Fig. 7 is an enlarged, detailed, perspective view of the collector, immediately to the rear of the brushes. Fig. 8 is an enlarged, detailed, perspective view of the nose lifting device.

Referring to the drawings, A are the for ward carriage wheels, and A the rear traction wheels.

A is the rear axle and A the front.

B are longitudinal springs secured to the 00d forfront and rear axles, one on either side. De-

endent from the s rings is the box C, the ottom of which it is desirable to have clear the ground by four to six inches.

C are supports on either side of the box,

secured to 1ts side faces and bearing on the springs.

C 1s a gate in the side of the box and is adapted to 0 en outwardly and downwardly, so t at it wifl be of assistance in the cleaning out of the box.

D is a framework or platform, extending forwardly from within the box, and supported from the upper face of the sprin s, and is in width somewhat greater than t e box. Accordi ly it extends forwardly, above the whe dl s.

D is the nose, which is of the same width as the platform and is pivoted at its upper edge to the frame work by a rod or axle D extending completely across. The nose is divided into two portions D D, which are of equal width and separately movable, being joined at their inner edges by means of a waterproof canvas D or such like, which will allow of slight individual movement. The position of the joint is such that the nose may extend over the front wheels to the ground, at an angle of somewhere about forty-five degrees.

E are metallic runways on the sides of the nose. E is a central sleeve pivotally su ported on the front axle A E are si e arms extending from the sleeve forwardly, and E are rollers pivotally secured to the arms on the inner face. E are central arms extending from the sleeve E and in a plane with the outer arms, and E are rollers similar to those E F is a rigid loop extending upwardly from the sleeve. The rollers E are adapted to engage with runways similar to those E on the inner side faces of the re-.

spective portions of the nose. F is a hand wheel, and F a rod extending from the hand wheel downwardly centrally through the platform. F is a grooved wheel secured to the end of the rod, and F is a chain attached to the wheel and extending forwardly to the tip of the loop F. B thls attachment the turning of the wheel I 1 winds or loosens the rope on the chain, and accordingly lifts the nose by means of the arms; the rollers and the runways aiding materially to give an easy action. A ratchet and ratchet wheel F is employed for retaining the hand wheel in any desired position.

I have considered it advisable to make the nose wide, in order that time may be saved in usin the machine, and with this increase of widt comes the necessity of allowing for adjustment of the nose to com ly with the curvature of the street, and ot er unavoidable irregularities.

G are bars pivotally supported at G to the outer side faces of the nose and towards the forward end, and form bearings for the brushes or sweepers G G is a strap extending across the free end of the bar G, and secured to the nose, allowing free upward and downward movement of the bar.

Gr is a standard bolted to the plate G, practically in alinement with the nose, and

extending downwardly.

H is a swivel wheel pivoted to the end of the standard, and there are four such swivel wheels secured to the nose, one at either side of the respective sections of the nose.

H is the axle of the brushes, the outer end of which is revolubly supported in a pivoted bearing II dependent from a block casing H slidably supported in the forward upturned end of the bar G. In this way any upward or downward motion of the axle is taken by the pivoted bearing H and an adjustment as to the height of the axle is given by a winged screw I. By turning the screw the casing H is moved up or down, being guided and retained by grooves I within the upturned end of the bar G.

J are arms fastened forwardly on the bars G, and J are swivel wheels secured on the arms J. 'The position of the swivel wheel on the ground is such, that it is practically directly below the axle of the brush, and the swivel wheels being one at either side, take all the end weight due to the brush.

K is a bar extending centrally above and between the portions composing the nose, and is pivoted at its upper end to the shaft D K is a swivel wheel secured to the forward end of the bar K.

The bar K supports the central bearing for the brushes, which are situated somewhat behind the swivel wheels, and in alinement with the outer end bearings heretofore mentioned. It will be understood that in the com'plished in the followingmanner 2 A circular opening K is cut, extending longitudinally within the inner ends of each of the individual shafts H Extending slidably within the openings are stems K? bein the extending ends of a knuckle and ball joint K. The outer surface of the knuckle 1s hemispherical, and is retained within a vertically sliding bearing L, working in a groove L within the casing L secured to the bar K, at U. A threaded 'bolt L extends upwardly from the bearing L, and is or the side wheels J should be running on'a different ments wil allow for such, that is, i he center swivel wheel should pass over anything on a higher plane than that of the side wheels, the bearing L would necessarily go up with the wheel, and consequently the bearings at the outer ends of the axles would be turned, which is allowed for by the pivoted bearing H The allowance for the lengthening of plane, the brush bearing adjustthe'shaft is made by the stems K working in the openings K The ball and socket allows for the change of position of the axle, as the ball plays in the socket, and the socket in the bearing L. If the center wheel should be lower than the end wheels, the action is the same. Thus it will be seen that complete consideration is made for any motion of the shaft H in the vertical plane, and consequently the brushes can take, the ordinary deviations in curvature, etc., in the pavements. In event of the brushes wearing along the circumference, they can be lowered by adjusting-the winged nut L on the screw L at the center bearing, and by adjusting the screws I of the end bearings.

The platform D is completely covered by an open ended casing M, which extends considerably above and is necessarily wider than the box. At the rear end where the platform extends into the box, the casing is cut away tolie flush with the edges of the box. Forwardly it is rounded at M along the upper face, the curve being concentric with the shaft D Each of the individual portions D D of the nose, have a casing M M extending above them, and fitted at their upper end to sleeve with the casing M. Each brush is covered by a hood N N, which opens at its rear face into the individual casings M M. The hoods are so constructed that they allow for the upward and downward adjustment of the brushes, and are of the same width as the casing, the end bearings for the brushes extending on the outside. The openings between the respective nose portions is, as beforesaid, covered with water-proof canvas, and the inner ends of the hoods are similarl 'oined. It will be noticed that the bar K,

efore mentioned, asses throughout its length immediately elow the water-proof canvas, and in this way is free to move to a limited extent, suflicient for all necessary movement of the brushes. At the inner end of the platform are sets of chain wheels 0, and on the shaft D and within the casing are similar sets of chain wheels 0 in alinement with those 0.

O are forward sets of chain wheels ivoted towards the outer edges of the portions of the nose.

The wheels 0 are secured to the shaft D and revolve therewith. v

0 are sets of chain wheels pivoted from the platform by means of a bracket which extends below, there being two sets of such wheels.

P are endless sprocket chains, being four in number, passing over the correspondin wheels in the sets, that is, over the central wheels 0 around the lower wheels 0 over the wheels 0, and around the rear wheels 0. Extending between the chains are belts, which serve to elevate from the lower end upwardly to the box; conse uently there will be two endless belts, each aving its upper or ascending side clearing the upper face of the platform, and its nose portion, and within the casing, directly to the rear of the brushes. and forward of the belt are two collectors P, which serve to take what is swept by the brushes and deposit it on the conveyers or belts. I

The construction of the collector is as follows :An axle or rod P bears in the side bar at the outer end, and at its inner in an arm extending from the inner ed e of the nose portion. A curved plate P 0 an o ee-shape is centrally pivoted on the rod, and as along its forward edge a series of pivoted wheels P designed to allow the plate to clear the ground. The upper end of the plate passes over the conveyer and accordingly the sweepings from the broom are easily deposited on the belt. The wheels P should be large enough to prevent any chance of buckling the plate P in event of a break in the pavement or such like similar irregularity. By this arrangement it is always assured that all the sweepings from the broom will be caught by the collector, as it remains practically at a constant distance from the ground, and is not thrown decidedly away from the pavement should there be a sudden elevation.

Q are bearin s supported from the face of the casing, on t e nose, and Q are shafts rotatable within the bearings.

Q are fans secured to the shafts, and Q are cylindrical casings enveloping the fans.

R are draft pi es, 0 enin at their upper ends into the-en s of t e cy indrical casing, and flared as at R at their lower end, and open to the inside of the hood.

R are pipes opening from the periphery of the cylindrical casing and extending rearwardly over the nose.

R are flexible joints extending between the exhaust pipes R and the ipes R opening into the casing above the platform. The joints R are formed to allow of the movement of the nose, and will colla se if necessary, and their position is radia ly from the axle D above the curved portion M.

R is a flap extending completely across the casing M, and is so proportioned as to prevent any current of air passing from the pi es to the casings on the nose.

' earwardly supported on the box is a motive power S, from which the main shaft S extends.

S is a loose gear wheel on the shaft S connected by a sprocket chain to'a gear wheel S on the rear axle A T is a shaft hanger secured to the under face of the platform D, and T is a shaft bearing in the hanger.

T is a sprocket wheel at the inner edge of the shaft, below the platform, and is connected by a sprocket chain T to a sprocket wheel T at the outer end of the shaft. T which, by means of a clutch T, can be thrown into rotation with the shaft S U is a sprocket wheel at the outer end and rigid with the shaft T and U is a sprocket wheel secured to the shaft D, and connected with the sprocket U by a sprocket chain U".

U is a sprocket wheel on the shaft D im mediately to the side of the wheel U and U is a sprocket Wheel secured to the outer end of the shaft Q and'is connected to the sprocket U by means of a sprocket chain U".

V is a sprocket wheel secured to the outer end of the shaft H and V is a similar wheel secured to the shaft D which is at its outer end, and the wheels are connected by a sprocket chain V It will be noticed that there is only a single drive for the shaft D but the gear wheels U and V are duplicated on both sides of the nose, there being individual drives for the fans and the wheels.

A clutch W is supplied for throwing the sprocket wheel S into rotation with the shaft, and any form of clutch may be used which is under the control of the o erator. In this way I am able to have the be ts running and the machine standing still, or the machine running and the belts stopped, or both running together.

W is a spring seat secured forwardly above the platform.

X is a steering handle, the rod X of which passes down centrally through the casing,

etween the belts, and bears on the front axle. The ordinary ear, as employed, in automobiles, passes rom the rod to the wheels.

The operation of the machine is as follows The belts are rotated by the shaft D and theebrush in its movement sweeps the heavier refuse up over the collector, from which it is deposited by the belts into the box. Dust, etc., is drawn upwardly by fans, through the pipes It, and deposited rearwardly through the pipe It within the casing and upon the belts, eventually being deposited, also, in the box. In event of a large obstruction in the pavement, the nose is lifted by means of the hand wheel F such being done also when the machine has finished sweeping! When the box has been filled, through the gate C.

Y are 0 enings in the sides near the top of the box, ventilating.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device of the class described, a wheeled frame, a dust tank or receptacle supported'by the frame, a rotatable brush, a

ood to the brush, an open-ended stationary casing supported from the platform, and opening rearwardly into the receptacle, an a justable casin extending from the hood upwardly and s eeving with the aforesaid casing, an endless conveyer operating within the casings, an exhaust fan carried by the adjustable casing and exhausting from the hood, and depositing on the conveyer within the stationary casing, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotatable rear axle and a stationary front axle, mounted, on rear tracpivotally supported from the end of the nose,

a hood to the brush, a continuous casing extending above the platform and the nose,

and between the hood and the receptacle,the

' said casing being formed from an upper and lower portion sleeving together, an endless conveyer within the casing, swivel wheels supporting the nose, swivel wheels supporting the brush, means for raising the nose, and a means for o erating the conveyer andthe brush, as'an for the purpose s ecified. 3. In a device of t c class escribed, the

it is cleaned out' tted with screens and serve for combination a set of forward carriage and rear traction wheels, of a dust tank or receptacle, a rotatable brush, a continuous sleeved casing between the hood of the brush and the receptacle, said casin consisting of a stationary part and a mova le part and a conveyer within the casing, of an exhaust fan supported on the movable part of the casing, a series of pipes leading from the hood to the fan, a ipe leading from the fan, and opening into t e upper end of the casing, sa1d last named pipe having a flexible part and means for operating the fan and the brush, as and for the purpose s ecified.

4. In a device of t e class described, the combination with a wheeled frame, of a dust tank or receptacle, a platform extending forwardly from the receptacle and above the front wheels, an open-ended stationary cars-- ing secured on the upper face of the platform and openin at its rear end into the tank, a nose pivota ly connected to the latformand extending obliquely downwar l the said nose consisting of a plurality of similar adjoining members, sets of swivel wheels secured to the sides of the nose portions, supportin the same,-'a set of rotatable brushes,-

pivote arms extending forwardly from the outer edges of the adjoining nose portions, a pivotal bearing within the arms, for the outer end of the brush shafts, and within a vertical adjustment to the pivotal bearing, a set of swivel wheels securedto the arms, individual hoods for the brushes, casings secured on the upper face of the individual nose ortions, an opening at their lower ends into the hoods, and-at their upper ends sleeving with the stationary casing, a flexible joint formed between the upper and lower edges of the adjoining nose portions and the hoods, a

shaft pivotally supported at the junction of the nose portions and the platform, and extending forwardly between the nose portions and 'the brushes, a swivel wheel at the forward end of the shaft, a slidable adjustable knuckle and ball joint dependent from the shaft, the said joint forming the inner susension for the ends of the brush shaft, endess conveyers within the casings, adapted to deposit sweepin s from the brush into the receptacle, aco lector behind the brushes,

and above the conveyers, fans exhausting from the hoods to the conveyers within the casing above the platform, and a flap extending across within the stationary casing, as and for the purpose specified.

HENRY ALBERT HUBER.

Witnesses:

M. A. SoMERvILLE, GERALD S. ROXBURGH. 

